DAVID RUSH

​Writer

SCENE FROM  "POLICE DEAF NEAR FAR" 

 

ROBERTA

For me, I met Stinger about a year ago. I work as a counsellor for the Center for Deaf Services and I'm also a certified interpreter.  I was interpreting at this political meeting and he came up to me afterwards.

(We move into the scene:) 

STINGER

(HE voices)

Hey.

(SHE stops and turns. HE now signs throughout the rest of the scene)

That sign you used back then.

(HE does a sign)

... I don't get it.

ROBERTA

(signing throughout)

This? It means..

(SHE defines it, with another sign or fingerspelling)

STINGER

You mean...?

(HE shows HER another sign or repeats hers; an effort to clarify. SHE nods.) 

Then you do this.

(HE shows her another sign)

ROBERTA

(SHE repeats)

Thanks.

STINGER

And when you were saying about (...); that's in California.  Chicago does (...)

ROBERTA

Since when?

STINGER

There's only two ways to learn right sign.  On the street with real Deafies or sleep with a deaf guy.

ROBERTA

Really? 

STINGER

I'll teach you stuff the CHS never heard of.  You'd be the best interpreter in the city.

ROBERTA

That's got to be the single best line I ever heard.

STINGER

I know.  If only I could find one that worked as good on deaf girls.

ROBERTA

I didn't say it was working.

STINGER

Gimme a try. We could build a bridge. You could reach out and connect with the poor and unfortunate.

ROBERTA

What?  

STINGER

You could make the life of one disabled jerk just a little bit better. Isn't that why you interpret?

ROBERTA

You know, you were doing okay up until now.

STINGER

You mean I'm going too fast?

ROBERTA

You stopped being funny.  I gotta go.

STINGER

Wait.  I'm an angry Deaf-Power soldier, that's how we are. But I'll slow down. We'll start over.  What's your name?